Envelope-dispensing machine



(No Model.)

A. 0. MONPORT. ENVELOPE DISPENSING MACHINE.

K Patented Jan. 10, 1893.

llivrTEn STATES PATENT @EETEE.

ABRAM O. MONFORT, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE MONFORT STAMP AND ENVELOPE COMPANY, OF MAINE.

ENVELOPE-DISPENSING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,683, dated January 10, 18:93.

Application filed September 8, 1892. Serial No. 445,366. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABRAM O. MONFORT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Machine for Supplying Envelopes to Purchasers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of machines in which a coin is dropped into a prepared receptacle or slot, which coin, by its fall. sets in operation the mechanism within, and thus supplies the person dropping the coin, some more or less useful commodity, and the object of myinvention is tofurnish a machine which will, upon the introduction of a five cent piece, or such other coin as may be determined upon, release appropriate mechanism and enable the operator to receive one or more envelopes. This object is secured by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical view of the interior with the cover removed; Fig. 2 is a side view showing the coin tube, money drawer, and releasing mechanism; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through 5cm of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4. is the release-bar or lever.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

0, in Figs. 1 and 3, represents a wheel fixed to a horizontal axle, K-G', and free to be revolved,.when properly released, in the sides of the exterior case AB, Fig. 1.

ST in Fig. 2 represents the tube down which the coin is dropped, S being the orifice of introduction.

T 0 the rim 0, of the aforesaid wheel, is attached a tangentially projecting pickoff shown at D, Fig. 3.

E, in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is a curved receiver having its upper edge, partially removed as shown in Fig. 1, so as to permit the passage of the flap D in the revolution of the wheel 0.

F and H in Fig. 3 represent heaps of envelopes,F being a pilein position, and H serving to supply the upper receptacle when the pile F is exhausted.

J represents the envelope holder, it consisting essentially of a stationary box provided with an inclined bottom and having its inner or stop-end next the cylinder of a height to hold the body part-of the envelope and yet permit the edge of the flap of the envelope,

as shown in Fig. 3, to be exposed and to lie in the path of movement of the said pick-0d, so that the latter as it is passing the envelope holder will enter behind the flap of the envelope and will pick off the endmostenvelope of the pile of envelopes in the said holder.

R and P in Fig. 2are respectively aratchet and pawl, R being fixed to the axle KG, so as to prevent the Wheel 0. from being turned in a direction opposite that indicated by the arrow. J is areservoir,holding theenvelopes inclined as in Fig. 3, at F.

L in Figs. 1 and 2 is a collar fixed upon the axle G-K, and havinga stop L, fitted to strike against and be stopped by the hook Y of the release bar YZ. 7o

YZ, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, is a rigid bar pivoted at V, and having the end Z forked as seen in Fig. 4.,s0 that the coin determined upon will slightly exceed in diameter the inner opening of the fork Z as shownin Fig. 4. The end Y is hooked so as to engage with the stop L, as shown in Fig. 2, when themachine is at rest.

W is a pin which prevents the lever Y Z from tipping too far when the machine is operated.

M is a drawer to receive the coin as it drops from the fork Z.

The operation of the machine is as follows :The wheel C, Fig. 3,is in a state of unstable equilibrium on account of the flap D, and if free to move, would revolve in the direction of the arrow until the flap D came to its lowest point directly under the axle; it is heldhoweverbythehookYinengagementwith the stop L, as in Fig. 2. A coin of the proper denomination is now dropped into the orifice S, and falling down the tube T, it strikes the fork Z and turns it to release the stop L, the weight of the pick-off causing the wheel 0 to 5 make a partial revolution, the purchaser continuing the revolution by means of the ban dle or knob G. As the wheel continues to revolve the pick-off D engages the flap O of the endmost envelope in the pile F, thus disen- 10o gaging it from the pile and carrying it over the top of the wheel, until when the wheel is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the envelope falls from the pick-off by gravity into the delivery chute E, the hook Y engages the stop L, and the machine is ready for subsequent.

operations. The coin, in the meantime, has fallen from the fork Z and is in the till M.

The pile of envelopes is so arranged that the flaps are all underneath, as shown in Fig. 3, and the removal of one enables another to come immediately into position.

The orifice S is just large enough to admit the proper coin, and the fork Z is of such size that a coin smaller than the one determined upon will pass through without releasing the wheel.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine for dispensing envelopes, a Wheel provided with a pick-off extended from its periphery in a tangential direction; a receiver into which the pick-oit delivers each envelope, and an envelope holder having its edge next the wheel shaped to engage the body of the envelope but to leave the flaps thereof exposed to the action of the pick-off, the l tter entering between the flap and the body of the envelope and taking one envelope after another from the holder and delivering it, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for dispensing envelopes, a wheel provided with a pick-0E extended from its periphery in a tangential direction; a receiver into which the pick-off delivers each envelope, and an envelope holder having its edge next the wheel shaped to engage the body of the envelope but to leave the flaps thereof exposed to the action of the pick-off, the latter entering between the flap and the body of the envelope and taking one envelope after another from the holder and delivering it; a stop; a co-operating releasing device, and a coin conducting chute wherebyacoin of the proper character may move the releasing device and release the wheel to be moved, for the purposes set forth.

ABRAM O. MONFORT. Witnesses:

FRANK E. CRAWFORD, ALLEN W. CHATTERTON. 

